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HOW THIS IS MONEY CAN HELP

There is an exemption for landlords renting out social housing and student accommodation as long as the local authority or higher education institution has evidence of the individual's right to be in the UK.

ELIGIBLE DOCUMENTS

Landlords will need to check and retain copies of certain documents that show a potential tenant has the right to live in the UK.

The legislation will also target unscrupulous landlords who repeatedly fail to carry out right to rent checks by making it a criminal offence. This means they could face imprisonment for failing to check on their tenants.

Landlords in Birmingham, Walsall, Sandwell, Dudley and Wolverhampton were the first to be signed up to a pilot scheme in December 2014 and several have already faced fines for failing to comply.

David Cox, managing director of the Association of Residential Letting Agents, said: 'The roll out will continue to help to weed out the minority of rogue landlords who exploit vulnerable immigrants for their own financial gain – as seen during the pilot scheme.

'The Immigration Bill 2015 will further develop these plans when passed next year, through harsher penalties, including criminal offences, aimed at those landlords and unregulated agents that aren't complying with basic laws.

'Implementing the scheme across the whole of England, instead in further pilot phases, will also remove any confusion from landlords and agents about whether they are required to comply.'

However, landlords have been warned that in checking up on tenants, they could potentially be accused of discrimination under the Equality Act.